Carol Reid wrote:

> Just yesterday a few pages quoted from Len Deighton's book "Home under
Water" published 1963 were given to
> me by a pal who knows of my interest in anything to do with diving.

> You guys prob all know the story. These pages described the author's
introduction to diving - metal necks rings
> mentioned so I assume hard -hat but also, believe it or not in 1963,
rebreather apparatus that they called "oxygen
> sets"!!!  In those days it was all about stealth!  CPO Edwards
(instructor)was a Clearance Diver at Portsmouth.

I believe the best response I can give to this one is, Oh Shit.  Not that I
didn't enjoy the content, because I did, but because I was already diving in
1963 and so was Strike.  Strike probably used everything you read about at
one time or another.  I wasn't so fortunate, or unfortunate depending on
your point of view.  I've never used anything but open circuit recreational
scuba equipment.

> > In fact two local guys -  a QANTAS pilot and a former RAN Clearance
Diver
> > who formed a company called 'Helmet Fetish' to give people a dip in a Mk
> > 5 - have just been given the go ahead by PADI International to run
specialty.

Sounds like a hoot, but a specialty?

Lee